Recently we released a new version of Docker Enterprise Edition featuring expansion of the multi-architecture capabilities from Linux to Windows Server and now the IBM Z mainframe platform. Enterprise IT architecture is complex and diverse and include workloads across different server hardware types and operating systems.

Docker and IBM have partnered together to deliver the support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ubuntu and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM Z (x390x) systems as certified infrastructure for Docker Enterprise Edition. This first release features support for the the IBM Z product family.

Why bring Docker containers and mainframe systems together? Enterprises across industries like financial services, government, manufacturing and more use mainframe systems for many high throughput applications. Many organizations recognize that these applications are at the core of their systems but rewriting and refactoring them for a different platform is expensive and time-consuming. By wrapping them in a container, organizations can make these applications easier to maintain and update while bringing them into the same software supply chain as other x86 applications

Multi-Architecture Support for Mainframe Systems

Docker Enterprise Edition allows for the same orchestration, security model, supply chain and integrated management that can be applied across a broader range of your application portfolio and drive IT operational efficiency.

Multi-architecture support means that a single cluster of worker nodes can include x86 Linux and Windows Server in addition to mainframe systems. Each server or VM will have their respective Docker Enterprise Edition installed and with swarm mode activated, the cluster will form and be orchestrated by the manager nodes running the control plane. Today, all manager nodes remain x86 Linux nodes that manage and orchestrate the heterogeneous cluster. The Trusted Registry, Image Scanning and Signing can all be applied to containerized mainframe applications. The granular Role Based Access Control (RBAC) and labels can also be applied to the diverse set of nodes in the cluster and containers in the registry. The best part is the same UI, same process and operating model can be applied across all these different application types.

Try Docker on IBMZ

Docker Enterprise Edition for Linux on IBM Z is available directly from IBM and their network of channel partners. Level 1 and Level 2 support is provided directly by IBM support engineers. Companies who already have a mainframe footprint can extend their existing partnership with IBM to add Docker EE to their technology stack for their critical applications.

Additionally, IBM recently announced a new release of the enterprise Linux platform designed specifically for mainframe systems. This next generation of IBM LinuxONE systems and Docker EE together provide complementary security capabilities from the system to the application and the ability for massive scale – up to two million containers per system.